I respect authority when it is valid. Petty bureaucrats and would-be martinets instantly raise my hackles. I don’t respect anyone who hasn’t earned it. That doesn’t mean I’m impolite (I see no reason to piss people off unless it’s necessary), but I’m not going to bow and scrape just because the guy behind the counter has an inflated ego. 
The best example was probably back in high school. I had a real petty principal, and he didn’t like me. I’m not sure why; in hindsight, I think it was because I’d successfully defended my proposition for an Independent Study course, which I then became the only student to make use of. He figured it was an excuse to slack, which was, admittedly, partially true, but I studied as well.
Anyway. He sent for me during one of my normal classes, right before school would have let out. I went to the office. And waited. And waited some more. Finally, I stood up and gathered my things, which got the receptionists notice.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she said.
“Home.”
“You can’t. You need to wait for the principal.”
“Look, lady. He sent for me. I did not ask to see him. If he’s too busy to see me right now, then he can send for me during normal school hours when he has more time. I’m not going to waste my day waiting around for him.” (I seem to recall paraphrasing something by Heinlein, but for the life of me I can’t remember what)
“You can’t do that!”
“Am I in detention?”
“Well, no…”
“Goodbye!” And I left.
Mom was on the phone when I got home. “Uh-huh. Oh really? Well, perhaps you’d care to share with me why you were calling him to the office? Hmm? Oh? Ok, I look forward to your call. Bye now.” She looked at me and winked. “He had to take another call awfully sudden, but he’ll get back to me as soon as possible.”
Mom was the best. She used to be a cop and never failed to back me up when I was faced with unjustified crap. Of course, I got it twice as bad when the crap WAS justified, but I learned quick to make those occasions few and far between. 
So, in summary:
Why did I do it? Because he was being a prick. 
What was the outcome? He pretty much left me alone the rest of the year… and I went up a notch or two in my classmates opinions (or so it seemed, anyway).
What do I think about rule-makers? If they’re honest and follow the rules themselves, I have no issue with them. Rules are necessary, as is knowing when to bend or break them. They are the glue that keeps civilization from falling apart. Perhaps the most infuriating thing of all is watching someone break the rules without valid cause and have nothing happen to them.
What do I think about rule-followers? It depends. Most of the time I have no beef with them, and am one myself. However, if one follows the rules blindly, without thinking, then I will lose most if not all of my respect for said person, and mark them – in my mind – as someone to be careful around. They’re not to be trusted if they can’t think for themselves (or choose not to).
Have my opinions changed? I don’t think so. They crystallized at some point in junior high or so, I think, and while I’ve done a lot of what-if scenario thinking and such since then, my core beliefs as listed here have not changed.
I ran across a website a while back that had what it called an explanation of the rational anarchist. While I don’t agree with everything in it, I do identify with quite a bit (I can’t find the link now, or I’d post it). In essence, I believe everyone – myself especially – is responsible for his own actions and must weigh every choice in relation to that. Everything is a choice. If I choose to follow the rules, it’s because that is the correct path for me at that time. If I choose to break them, same deal. Generally speaking, the correct thing to do is follow the rules, but there ARE exceptions, and recognizing those exceptions is important.
I’m SUCH a rebel, I know. 